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two natural forwards in our half-back line

To be honest, it's that long since Clarke played as a forward, i think you could hardly call him a natural forward. I think it's probably the strongest team Ross could have picked when you factor in injuries and experience.

I thought John Boyle would have been a better option a CHF than Carr, but obviously not to the managemnt's thinking!!

I think you do Ross a disservice there. Boyle has done well, put Aidan Carr simply has more county experience and IMO is there on merit. He may not be as good as his old man, but he is a decent free-taker and can lob over the odd 45 as well.
I don't think Ross is one of those managers who will blindly pick his son for the sake of it. Aidan did OK during the league and played well for Queen's this year. If anything, I think Ross would be his own son's biggest critic.

How did Packie Downey do v Louth? Has he done enough to play himself into the Championship team?
Maybe he is the type of player we need. Seems to play with no fear and, if played in two-man ff line, would solve the problem of Benny getting isolated so often when he plays there.

BTW, don't think Kevin and Brendan McGourty are cousins as both have fathers called Sean and that would just be confusing.

An Dun

Peil: To play more than two matches (whether that be in Ulster or Qualifiers)
Iomainiocht: Ulster final and win Christy Ring

Colgan could be the man ifor CHB or midfield as long as he's not expected to keep UUJ, An Riocht and Down together - he is still 19 after all.

....and Down U21s!

The one thing that gives me cause for optimism about Ross over POR is that he likely to change things it they aren't working. Equally, I don't think he would have a problem dropping or picking his own son based on form alone. IMO, I think Aidan Carr should be given a chance for his dead ball skills, that's one thing we've be crying out since, well, Ross retired!

Think you should change the name of the thread immediately as it is clearly misleading

Not too sure what the match was, but I think I head one about Armagh in 2003 when they were down at half-time and Joe got Eamonn Mackle to bring the Sam Maguire into the changing rooms and say 'do you want to leave this here.' It worked to an extent as they got to the final but were beaten by Tyrone. (By the way that was not meant as carte blanche for another nauseating Armagh-Tyrone bashing session)

*If you're going to play Armagh - Orange Crush by REM (if you're feeling pretty confident that is)

*For Mayobridge (re: their recent Ulster Championship v Ballinderry) - One by U2

*Down, Down, Deeper and Down  by Status Quo for, you've guessed it Down

*For any team managed by 'Dunboyne herballist' Sean Boylan - One moment in thyme

Yeah, if this was an Ulster-related thread, people would be up in arms!

Ambrose maybe, but Dee should be back. He broke a bone in his foot I think playing soccer at the end of August, so should be back in contention come the League.

I think Mickey Harte has the right idea. Managers shouldn't necessarily slap an outright ban on players drinking, they should explain to them what's expected of them and highlight the rewards of giving committment to a team. Likewise, players who have any ambition whatsoever have to make up their minds what sort of sacrifice they personally are prepared to make to achieve those ambitions. If they feel the can do so and have a few drinks now and again, then that's fair enough. The zero tolerance approach, i believe, only leads to more resentment and filters through to supporters who go absolutely ape when they see one their county stars in a pub have a drink the week before a game.

 "current trials, i have a problem already in that a number of last year's panellists dont know where they stand. thats bad form, and i expected communication to be much much better than this...."

Fair point, Goldenyears, but the time it took to actually appoint a new manager has delayed everything. Ross and DJ needed to wait until their appointment and then call and organise trials. It's fair enough saying last year's guys should know where they stand, but managment need to make up their minds first. As i said before, no-one should feel they are automatically in the panel cos they were on it last year.

Fair enough, but he has had a couple of shaky years. But putting current panellists in with potentials should give them a bit of gee up. It's should be a case of if you're not playing well enough, there's someone waiting to come in and take your place. We haven't really had that, in fairness, recently even for people like BC. Nobody should feel they are guaranteed their place on the team.

Also, some of last year's panel need to convince new management that they are really county material, the aforementioned Cole being one of them. Plus, Ross and DJ need to see where people's best positions are. Any chance that Doyle was at CB?